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Greece: Massive riots, police cooperates with fascists, during Antifa demo

imc athens translation | 03.02.2008 06:17 | Anti-racism | Repression | World

Detailed update of the events of Saturday 02/02, that took place in the center of Athens, as a response to the attempt of an extremist right wing organisation to commemorate a nationalist anniversary.

Since early in the morning about 50 fascists had been gathered in Kolokotroni sq, where the Neo-Nazi organisation “Chrissi Avgi” had planned a demonstration for 7pm. An anti-fascist demonstration had been scheduled for 2pm, organised by many organisations; though, since the square had been occupied since early, 400 demonstrators from the left and anarchist/anti-authoritarian space, gathered in Propylaea an Klafthmonos sq.

When the antifascists approached Kolokotroni sq, they saw a chain of cops, forming a shield for the fascists, who were standing behind the cops. At some points the cops left some space for the fascists to move in between them. This way, the fascists managed to stub two of our comrades and hit another two ones with stones. The guy who was stubbed, was moved to Evangelismos Hospital, where he stayed, after being having a surgery; his situation is not critical. A young man who had been stabbed on his leg and another one who was hit with a stone on the head, had to be treated for just a few hours. A fourth person, hit by stone, didn't need any treatment.

At about 11am, there was an attack towards the fascists, stones were thrown and the two opponent blocks came very close. The cops intervened, pushing the demonstrators back, spraying tear-gas and beating with batons. An antifascist fainted, beaten with a baton, while a video of the corporate media showed fascists, holding greek flags, flare rockets etc, to be in the lines of the policemen attacking the antifascists. Confrontations also took place in several places in Athens, as groups of individual fascists and antifascist, who were moving down-town, meet each other.

At 1 o'clock, another march, consisting of 200 people protesting against Bionova and Genetically Modified Organisms, started, since it had been planned long time ago. They finally chose to walk on Panepistimiou and join the others. The antifascists made chains and started moving to Panepistimiou to let the two marches together.

2pm: Antifascists threw stones and sticks to the fascists, at the junction of Panepistimiou and Sina str.. The cops intervened and there was tension, including tear-gas, sth that happened again later. The left antiracist organisations, which organised the demonstration, announced they have decided to leave the place. The riot police attacked with chemicals, so that they can reclaim Panepistimiou str. About 500 demonstrators, blocked in Propylaea, occupied the Prytaneum, made a plenary and called for an antifascist demonstration at 6pm.

A little later than 3pm, the Public Prosecutor announced their decision to ban the manifestation of the fascists and disperse their gathering. The fascists initially refused, but left when they saw more squads coming. MP of a left party said to radio station that he saw with his own eyes, riot policemen to be loading a van with sticks, which were given to the fascists.

7pm: evening demonstration from Propylaea:

A little after the march had started, with more than 600 people, the riot police attacked without reason, beating mercilessly with batons and throwing a big mass of chemicals and flare rockets. The batons and the chemicals resulted in many people to be beaten or stepped over, including demonstrator, passer-by civilians and TV camera operators. About 120 people were arrested and brought to the police headquarters, including some injured ones, while the more seriously injured ones went to the hospital in an ambulance. Small groups of demonstrators were isolated and blocked in several places, while 300 people managed to run to Exarchia sq; the formed roadblocks as they were surrounded by police squads.

The situation got calm at about 10pm, when all the arrestees were released with no charges. Those who were in Exarchia dispersed in small groups, after some time. Among the ones in hospital, 4-5 of them stayed there, including a female comrade who had been hit by a tear-gas shot directly on her eye and her forehead.

imc athens translation

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Hide the following 6 comments

serious resistance

03.02.2008 13:27

The courage, strength and solidarity of the left / anarchist / anti-authoritarian movements in Greece is inspirational. If only we had a fraction of that here in the UK. Thoughts go to those injured by police and fascists, and hope that they make full recovery.

with true respect


Typical police work...

03.02.2008 22:08

Not a week ago, we had a little demo in London, Not a week ago the Met were marching hand in hand with the BNP, Not a week ago they were talking of evicting a squat illegali with a racist law, We know how the cop's loyalties are for, here and in greece, to police a facist state you must be a facist, natural selection was supposed to rid us of there moronic baboons, when we have cops giving us undercover help, we'll be in a much better place.

Yet...
Without the cops you cannot have an effective revolution :(

Richard Midda


What?

03.02.2008 23:47

"Without the cops you cannot have an effective revolution" - did you not miss "getting rid of" out of that sentence? Winning the rank-and-file of the army over is important, but where does all this stuff about getting the cops to help with the revolution come from? Is there any theoretical basis for this? Are there any historical examples of coppers coming over to the workers' side?

TBAC


Cops on the side of the revolution

04.02.2008 01:44

The Orange Revolution in Ukraine and Rose Revolution in Georgia had the cops on the side of the protesters AFAIK, although since they were both backed by the US in order to turn pro-Russia regimes into pro-America regimes they probably don't really count.

Another possible example is during the overthrow of the "communist" governments of the Eastern Block in 1989.

However in both cases the "revolution" ultimately served the interest of global capitalism, and of the nation-state, and since the police are tools of the State, they would not be on the side of any revolution that seeks to dissolve the State (unless they all spontaneously burned their uniforms and resigned their roles as the protectors of capital).

T.A.


St Petersburg cops joined febuary revolution,before bolshevik coup.Greek fash di

04.02.2008 09:03

Greek cops suck!
october coup which then gave ukraine to the germans as was the deal which funded lenin in his sealed train with his gold from Switzerland,fact.
Cops often go both ways, in Greece they just recently ended a fascist dictatorship about 30yrs ago seems police still have links.
Tony Benn was also on the march,rank &file did speak out about BNP though police federation were dumb. The Met & Fit teams often seem to dishonour good policing, which would be still necessary until we get rid of a lot serious antisocial assholes,fascists & paedo's. Police are a professional militia, there were prisons in anarchist aras of spain & militias during the revolution for fash & enemies of good people.

green syndicalist


Greek cops....

29.05.2008 01:32

Greek cops always stand on the far right, by tradition. You can only exist as a cop in Greece by having strong nationalist sentiments and be actively opposed to any left political groups, immigrants, anarchists etc.

Every Greek cop I have met is either a nostalgic worshiper of the junta regime which took place 30 years ago or really misses the good old royal family.

There is no way for anyone to be a cop and express free thinking or left ideas while in service.

As a cop you have to be opposed to every aspect of the left and everyone who opposes the oppression. Every time there is a clash between fascists and anti-fascists/anarchists/etc the cops are blatantly (and without shame) helping the fascists....

The cops in the UK might be baring more rights to attack and prosecute (since the government is very oppressive and bound to fight "terrorism" ) but at least they hail from different creeds and are everyday people....can either be black, gay or have any political opinion....

Greek police = Nazi scum

Panos


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